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Tuesday, 9 August 2016

At 10am on Tuesday morning, 26th July (yes, 2 whole weeks ago) having got myself organised in the
shop as well as having all the deliveries ready to go out, I started to
write a blog entry. Now 14 days later and I think I may finally
have 5 minutes to myself to get it finished.

I feel all I do whenever I start a new blog entry is
apologise for being so tardy in keeping it up together; in my defence the shop
is so busy it’s a wonder I find the time to write quite as often as I do. Of
being busy I am most definitely not complaining.

We are currently still in full refurb mode – with the day to
day shop being so busy it’s not that easy finding the time to finish the
decorating, etc. However in the past fortnight we have had some new lights fitted
in the window which should come into their own once the sun sets at night. They
will also give us more options for themed displays - we already have a list that
we would like to do. On the subject of the window, the 2 main glass panels are
being priced up right now so that we can replace the darkened glass with clear
glass enabling people to be able to see the window display along with
everything in the shop without having to strain their eyes. It’s all moving
forwards wonderfully.

I had a bit of a bolt out of the blue a fortnight ago when
Becky came in to work. After 6 years she informed me that she is going to be
leaving us. Because she is now level 3 qualified she now feels that she should
be receiving pay for the work she does; youngsters these days certainly come
out with some crazy ideas. :) It just shows how times have changed though since I entered this business all of those years ago. My starting salary (allowing for inflation) would now be £146.07 for a 48 hour, 6 day week. That doesn’t even meet the living wage; no wonder small shops are struggling. Well done Becky though, you passed with a
distinction – now that you have a paper qualification, just like passing your
driving test, it’s time to learn all you can from as many different avenues about how to become an all-round florist. Unfortunately as busy
as Moonstones is, I just cannot justify a full-time, 6 day a week trainee,
apart from which it is really now time for you to see how other florists
operate so a parting of the ways can only be beneficial to you. Since writing this bit 2 weeks ago, Becky has now moved on to pastures new - she started her full-time job yesterday, and I wish her every success and happiness as she progresses through her floristry career.

I was asked the other day why I am not a member of a very
common florist’s association? Apparently if I join as an individual it would
enable me to add letters after my name but I can do that anyway if I choose –
Sarah Bradbury WOAM (woman on a mission) - that just shows how useful letters
can be to anybody who doesn’t know what they mean anyway. The only real
advantage would be that I could get discount from wholesalers I would never
use, or cheap subscriptions for magazines I will never have the time or
interest to read, ooh and I could clutter my shop window with stickers so that
customers know that I belong to something, but not necessarily what. Years ago
it was regarded as a prestigious community to be part of, but now, as long as
one has completed some kind of floristry exam, whether they passed or not, for
the relevant fee one can become a full member. It seems to negate the whole
idea behind it. Yes, it’s a great way for shops to network with each other and
some of the competitions they run are great for younger florists aiming to make
their mark in the world, but to me it’s actually just another kick in the teeth
to those genuine florists who have worked hard for their skills, experience and
qualifications, when individuals without any formal training or skill are also
able to join effectively just by 'coughing up the dosh'.

To carry the above theme on there is a ‘florist’s directory’
that is supposed to ensure that any florist you may choose to use is ‘up to the
mark’ To me the very wording of the directory suggests all the florists in
there have been vetted and deemed to be of an exceptional standard, yet I know
of one shop listed who purchase all their flowers from a well-known supermarket
because “they are cheaper than the wholesalers”. I can’t even begin to tell you
how much disgust I have for them in doing such a thing; it genuinely infuriates
me. I, along with many of my florist friends, work tirelessly to remove
ourselves from the cheap bunched flowers you can buy in a supermarket. I took
(and passed with flying colours) numerous floristry exams to get to the
position I am in today, using only fresh quality flowers. I had to prove myself
worthy to potential employers and members of the floristry world as being capable
of providing quality floristry alongside the very best quality flowers. I’ve
been blessed to work for, and with, some of the best florists in our business
who put me through my paces, to ensure one day I would be in the position to
open my own shop, to be able to compete with them on the same level. One of my bosses would send me
out for 2 or 3 weeks at a time to work for her friends so I learned as much
about the trade and different styles of floristry there were – believe me when
I say the standards they set were exceptional, and not all of them were the
nicest people in the world to work for/with. It was done though, to ensure I
knew not just how to make floral orders, but also how to look after the flowers
I was working with. Quality control was one of the very first things I was
taught in college, and via my first job as a trainee, all those moons ago. The
staff of the shop mentioned earlier have completed a part-time evening class at
a local college in flower arranging, opened a shop and managed to get in a
guide that is meant to sort the good from the bad. Sending in a few selected
photographs along with a nice fat cheque is not how I go about my business.
It’s reminiscent of the old “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” mentality.
If someone wishes to put my name on a list of recommended shops that is
brilliant but it will be because I have earned the right to be there, not
because I have paid them handsomely to put me in it. Until such times as they
actually go out to visit the shops that they are promoting, test them on a
number of different floral items and physically check the quality of the
flowers they are providing, then I will never put myself forward to be found in
such a thing.

Thankfully my customers are happy to share reviews, both
good and bad about the shop on Google and Facebook. They’re the reviews I want
to see, the promotion that I am interested in. Those of the general public who
have spent their money here, who have been happy with the flowers and service that
they have received, not someone I have paid to say I’m worth it and knows
nothing else about me.